from the Cross, after the celebrated painting by Rembrandt, drawn in chalk; busts of George III. and the Duke of Kent, a posthumous marble figure of the infant child of the Duke of Clarence, and an alto-relievo, representing an ascending spirit attended by a guardian angel, with the inscription Monumental tablet Her Royal Highness the Princess Charlotte. A Brahmin's hut, a temple dedicated to Solitude, an Italian tenple, and a hermitage, are among the ornamental erections; the latter contains a table spread with fruit, eggs, and bread, and the figure of a hermit reading the Scriptures. THE NEW ROYAL GARDENS Contain in area 22 acres, and are inclosed with a wall 12 feet in height; an inner wall, the same height, 106 feet distant from the outer wall, extends round three sides of the enclosure: the north side, for a space of about 230 feet in width, being occupied by forcing houses, &c. (in the north side, and facing the south, is a noble range of houses, 82 feet in length, divided into two wings by a house, for the residence of the head gardener, containing also two apartments for the use of Her Majesty; and out of which the Queen can proceed to the conservatories, &c. It is in contemplation to erect at each end of this range a conservatory 50 feet in length, making the total range of glass 920 feet. Each wing will consist of a vinery in the centre, 102 feet long; two pine houses, 58 feet long; and two peach houses, 56 feet long. The back wall of these houses also front the back wall to a range of buildings facing the north, and communicating with them; comprising fruit rooms, seed rooms, mushroom houses, boiler houses, store rooms, open sheds for lights, &c.; wash-house and pump rooms, labourers' rooms, potting sheds, and under gardeners' houses. A space between these buildings and the north wall, 150 feet wide and 1077 feet in length, is appropriated to form three ranges of pits for forcing melons, cucumbers, asparagus, &c., with cherry houses in the centre. The whole of these pits and houses, together with the forcing houses, are heated by hot water, upon the most simple and efficient known principle. The contrivances for the ventilation of the forcing houses also are perfect, simple, and beautiful; by turning a small quadrant windlass any quantity of air may be introduced or lessened over the whole or a portion of the surface of each forcing house. In front of the houses is a handsome terrace, fifty feet wide, approached by the principal entrance from the road to Old Windsor, which is flanked on one side by an open porch or cloister, and on the other by a porter's lodge; these, as also the head gardener's house, are erected in the Elizabethan style of architecture, and have an exceedingly pretty effect. It is also in contemplation to erect a tower, to contain cisterns or reservoirs for water, of a sufficient height to cause it to be distributed through pipes under ground to any part that may be required. The cisterns to be supplied by a small steam engine. On the north side, outside the garden wall, are the stables, with the necessary cffices, yard, space for manure, and every convenience. It is considered that, when finished, these gardens will be the most complete in themselves of any in the world. We cannot conclude without observing that, both in detail and as a whole, they reflect the highest credit on the skill and arrangements of their talented architect, J. Phipps, Esq., of Her Majesty's office of Woods, Works, &c., and also on Mr. Greenhill, clerk of the works, under whose direction they have been so effectually carried out. The grounds, &c. have been laid out and stocked under the able management and superintendence of Mr. W. Ingram, Her Majesty's head gardener. THE GREAT PARK, The scenery of which is both varied and picturesque, contains about 1800 acres, and is stocked with several thousand head of fallow deer. It lies on the south side of the town, and is intersected by several roads, the principal of which is the Long Walk. In this noble avenue, about two miles distant from the town, is a saline spring of great efficacy in chronic diseases; the water is transparent, colourless, and strongly impregnated with sulphuric acid, magnesia, and muriatic acid. In the summer of 1825 George IV., with his wonted kindness, directed that the spring should be opened for the accommodation of the public; but the number of visitants became so great as to exceed the supply of water, and it was again closed towards the end of the autumn, and has not since been re-opened. Another avenue, of considerable length, called Queen Anne's Ride, extends from Hudson's Gate, at the bottom of King's Road, to the boundary of the park near Ascot Heath. Under the direction of George III. several portions of the park were converted into farm lands, that a series of agricultural experiments might be made; various modes of cultivation, adopted from the practice of different districts, were prescribed, and for many years strictly adhered to; but the only two farms now remaining, which still retain their original names, Norfolk and Flemish, now belong to His Royal Highness Prince Albert. Oxen were, till lately, solely employed for the purposes of husbandry in the Great Park, and are still used upon the two farms above mentioned. STATUE OF GEORGE III. On the top of Snow-hill, at the farther extremity of the Long Walk, an equestrian bronze statue of George III., of colossal dimensions, is placed on a lofty pile, composed of large rough pieces of granite, on a foundation of bricks; it was executed by Mr. Westmacott, and elevated October 24, 1831. On the stone-work is inscribed GEORGIO TERTIO PATRI OPTIMO THE ROYAL LODGE. About half a mile, in the south-eastern direction, from the end of the Long Walk, is the Royal Lodge, formerly called the King's Cottage, which, for some time, was the constant summer residence of George IV. This building, which was erected upon the site of a small cottage in 1810, at various times underwent important alterations, and presented in its exterior elevation, the characteristics of an extensive gothic building in the cottage style; the interior was fitted up with great taste and propriety. A short distance from the main building is the private chapel, a small structure, fitted up with appropriate simplicity, its principal ornament being the window above the altar, representing our Saviour casting out devils. The rustic entrance lodges are constructed with boles of fir trees, fixed together in the Swiss manner, and the grounds attached are pleasingly laid out. By command of his late Majesty this favorite retreat of George IV. was taken down, except the gothic dining room, the conservatory, and gardener's residence, which have been preserved for occasional fétes. At the back of the Royal Lodge, separated by a plantation and shrubbery, is a large building called Cumberland Lodge, from its having been the seat of William, Duke of Cumberland, uncle to George III. The grand front faces the south, and is built of bricks, stuccoed, with a battlemented roof and small turrets at the angles, giving that part of the edifice a castellated appearance; but the remainder of the building presents a number of irregular projections, having been enlarged at different times, without reference to any general plan. Attached are an extensive range of gardens. On the east of Cumberland Lodge, commencing at Bishopsgate, is a ride forming the principal approach to the celebrated lake called Virginia Water, which presents a succession of delightful views, the natural charms of the scenery amid which it winds having been materially heightened by the judicious aid of art. Descending through a valley overhung with larch, pine, and fir trees, the road crosses an embankment at the head of the lake, having a rustic stone fence on one side entwined with moss and ivy, near which a ride has been formed, passing over an arm of the lake by a bridge, the archway being used as a boat-house. This ride terminates at the Fishing Temple, an elegant summer pavilion, having a tastefully disposed flower garden on the land front, with a fountain in the centre, stocked with gold and silver fish. On the side facing the lake a gallery extends the whole length of the building, which was for the accommodation of George IV. and suite when taking the diversion of angling. The roof is painted in various colours, and ornamented with dragons and other grotesque figures; but the interior, comprising a spacious central apartment and two smaller ones at the wings, is fitted up with great plainness. A winding path among the plantations leads from the pavilion to a small hermitage, situated on an ascent overhanging the water, and lighted by latticed windows, containing some curious specimens of ancient stained glass. From this spot, the lake, for upwards of a mile, expands to a considerable width, and adınits of aquatic amusements upon a large scale. A miniature vessel, named the Victorine, a frigate of considerable dimensions, named the Royal Adelaide, with several pleasure boats, were fitted up by George IV. during the summer months; the one generally used by him resembling an elegant Moorish tent, having an awning supported by lances, and crowned with the Mahometan crescent. Several bridges cross this fine piece of water, the principal of which is on the road to the small village of Blacknest; it consists of five stone arches, with rustic basements to the piers, and a corresponding parapet. This bridge was rebuilt under the superintendence of Sir J. Wyatville, and is a very handsome structure. On a small island, a short distance above it, is a summer room, fitted up in the Chinese style. Over another part of the lake is a bridge of one arch, 165 feet in span; on a small mound beyond which stands a lofty stone obelisk, crowned by an image of the sun, designed as a point of view from Cumberland Lodge. Near the Southampton high road the water forms a beautiful cascade, descending into a glen, romantically shaded with plantations of birch, willow, and acacia. "Hollowly here the gushing water sounds, With a mysterions voice; and one might pause Of fathomless wilds, where man had never walked." "moss c'ergrown," By the side of the cascade is a stone cave, constructed with fragments of immense size and curious shape, that were originally dug up at Bagshot Heath, and are supposed to be the remains of a Saxon cromlech. At the base of this fall it becomes a running stream, and after winding through a great part of Surrey, falls into the Thames near Chertsey. The plantations on its banks |